Overall, Stockton-area innkeepers saw occupancy rates rise 9.8 percent in 2012 from the year before to finish with a year's average of 53.9 percent. In comparison, California hotels occupancy rose 3.6 percent to 68.8 percent.

In addition, according to the latest Smith Travel Research data, Stockton hotel revenue per available room grew 13.4 percent to $35.15 in 2012. Overall, the state saw per-room revenue grow 9.6 percent to $84.81.

Area hotels were hit hard by the recession and occupancy rates, which had averaged in the low 60 percent range, bottomed out at 46 percent in 2009, "just a tough, tough year," Rhea said.

But occupancy and room revenues have been on the rise since.

Sporting events are a cornerstone of the area's leisure and hospitality industry.

"Sports has been our recession-proof business that continues to grow and expand," Rhea said.

The convention bureau supported nearly 20 youth and amateur sporting events in 2012, resulting in more than 9,000 hotel room nights and an estimated economic impact of $2.5 million.

The agency also partnered with the Stockton Ports to bring two new baseball events to town this coming year - the California Collegiate Athletic Association Baseball Championship Tournament and the West Coast Conference Baseball Championships.

"The sports market has been a high priority for the bureau and will continue to be as we move forward," George Kaplanis, president of the convention bureau's board and Stockton Hilton general manager, said in a statement.

Rhea said small group gatherings, such as clubs and associations, are also rebounding.

"There's been a strong increase in a lot of those (events) outside of sports," he said.

More details are available in the convention bureau's 2012 annual report, posted online at issuu.com/stockton_cvb/docs/scvb-annual-report-2012.